8Bitdo Arcade Stick for Nintendo Switch & Windows – Nintendo Switch )
| Dimensions: | 30.3 x 11.1 x 20.3 cm; 2.1 Kilograms |
| Model: | 6922621501350 |
| Batteries Included: | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Dimensions: | 30.3 x 11.1 x 20.3 cm; 2.1 Kilograms |
| Origin: | China |
I should note the original unit I got had no padding at all and the box was destroyed. Talked to Amazon customer support and made sure the replacement was better packaged. It came with a lot of padding.
The MAIN CON to this arcade stick is that it doesn’t feature a name brand joystick or buttons. They are very serviceable, especially if you’ve never use Sanwa/Seimitsu/etc. I actually really liked the stick and buttons until my Sanwa parts got here. The stock stick and buttons are much worse by comparison.
You can replace them, but it isn’t as easy as 8BitDo claims.
Firstly, they use security screws instead of phillips or some other common screw type. Secondly, you might think like I did “I have a screw driver with interchangeable bits, I can open this”. No you can’t. The screws are in so deep that they prevent anything but a proper T10 screw driver from reaching them.
Secondly, while the buttons are fairly easy to replace the joystick isn’t. You will need to by a 5pin adaptor or solder on your joystick. It also doesn’t support every joystick. Seimitsu in particular is a no-go.
If you have VERY large hands you might find there isn’t enough room for your left hand. Even with normal sized hands I would say your right hand barely has enough room to maneuver to the bottom buttons comfortably. However, this is a small-mid sized arcade stick so that is to be expected I suppose.
THE PROS:
Its amazing to look at. I love the aesthetic. I love the wireless nature and long battery life. The wireless latency is indistinguishable from wired to me. I love how it has LEDs for the buttons so when you swap between X input and switch it swaps the buttons around for you. I think more controllers need to use this feature.
If 8BitDo makes another version of this I would like it to be slightly bigger and easier to access. I would also like it to use Sanwa parts. I would have gladly spent $150 on this if it had these features.
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Heaven is playing on these arcade sticks. Hollow Knight on the Switch.
This fight stick/ arcade stick is amazing has a great battery life and it be connected VIA blue-tooth, VIA wireless usb dongle it comes with and VIA USB-C connection. and the wireless dongle doesn’t have any latency and a great buy for your first fight stick for people who are new to fighting games like me who just got the guilty gear strive it works great and is the best fight stick with great features and build for the 100 dollar price point. PS I GOT SAME DAY SHIPPING. Unlike the rest of the fight sticks who most of them have 2-5 weeks.
I was looking for options to play shmups properly on my switch and this one did not dissapoint. out of the box, thru bluetooth I started testing it with Crimsom Clover and was AMAZED on how natural it felt. It does not have enough room for you to rest your palms but you get used to it quick and forget. I wish I’ve gotten it sooner!.
Brilliant buy gives a real old school vibe really good build solid surprisingly heavy, really straight forward to connect to switch would highly recommend to the casual arcade game
I’ve owned a few arcade sticks over the years, specifically the now-discontinued MadCatz Hori Arcade Sticks. After around 10 years and a long hiatus from fighting games, I decided to hop back into the frey and get a new fight stick for SFV and the new Guilty Gear.
For the asking price, this stick is phenomenal. The stock joystick and buttons work great, and the wireless functionality is particularly impressive. I own some retro-style SNES controllers, which are consistently annoying to connect and pair to my PC. Meanwhile, this 8bitdo arcade stick connects instantly, and theres no noticeable latency issues. Truly, I find the seamless wireless aspect to be the most impressive part of this joystick.
So far, the “ultra moddable” feature seems to be true. I’ve swapped out the stock buttons for Sanwa arcade buttons, as well as a new ball top for the joystick. I may swap out the stick for a fancier one, but as of now the stock joystick is perfectly fine.
As a total package out of the box, I give the 8bitdo Arcade Stick a 4.5/5. After spending a little bit of extra money (~$20-35) I’d say it’s easily a 5/5 that can compete with Hori’s premium fight sticks.
Very happy with my purchase, would recommend to friends.
To clarify, this Arcade Stick is very moddable. I changed the stick to a Sanwa JLF and Sanwa buttons. You can connect via 5 pin cable, or solder seal connectors. A lot of different ways to get the job done with the Joystick mod upgrade.
I really love this! It’s perfect for playing my rom hacks. It’s comfortable and has a speed run button. This is a arcade stick done right.
Great stick out of the box. They could have done better to allow simpler swops for the joystick but it requires only minimal skill to do so.
At a minimum, make sure you have a long 15cm thin Torx t10 screwdriver if you want to open the case.
This stick is great, I got it to use bluetooth on Android, and as far as street fighter games and such goes its great. It isn’t responsive enough for shooters, there is a little input lag over bluetooth for some reason. My Xbox controllers don’t have that problem so I can only assume it’s the arcade sticks problem.
I’ve updated it and all that. It’s not much bit it’s enough to make shooters nearly unplayable.
I replaced the buttons with some Sanwa buttons and replaced the gate with an Octagonal gate. Personal preference. I also replaced the ball top with a bat top. But after all that it’s great. If I can figure out this bluetooth delay issue I’ll be golden.
This stick is great, I got it to use bluetooth on Android, and as far as street fighter games and such goes its great. It isn’t responsive enough for shooters, there is a little input lag over bluetooth for some reason. My Xbox controllers don’t have that problem so I can only assume it’s the arcade sticks problem.
I’ve updated it and all that. It’s not much bit it’s enough to make shooters nearly unplayable.
I replaced the buttons with some Sanwa buttons and replaced the gate with an Octagonal gate. Personal preference. I also replaced the ball top with a bat top. But after all that it’s great. If I can figure out this bluetooth delay issue I’ll be golden.
Awsome bit of kit, build quality is great. Connectivity is great. Apparently easily upgradable but haven’t dabbled in this yet. Maybe the best arcade stick on the market at present.
For most of you on the fence I would say, “get this stick” but before you take that advice, let me qualify it.
If you are a retro gamer, and you want a heavy stick to noodle around with while playing games on your switch, or retropie, this is great, with the exception of the gate on it. If you are trying to play pac man, its not an X or + and will be a problem.
If you are a hard-core fighting gamer, there is probably a better stick, but you will at least need to replace the gate, if you “ride the gate” for things like fireballs.
In general, this is a great looking stick, with a very good battery, and a decent feel to it. Is it perfect, no, but you could probably swap out the buttons and get it closer. But it in no way is bad, as stock.
Its a great toy, if you want that feeling of an arcade 1up, but would rather play your arcade games on your switch.
Great stick, highly customizable as stated. I threw a Sanwa GT-Y Octagonal Restrictor Plate for JLF Joysticks on it and it plays exactly like I want it to. Some people will probably want to swap the buttons out for something with more feedback like Cherry MX.
The only thing preventing me from giving this a 5 star is the button layout. The shoulder buttons are in reverse order. The left trigger and bumper are on the far right side and right trigger and right bumper are to the left of those. So in reverse order (see screen shot). You can customize the layout to fix this in game, but the led lighting around the buttons is still in reverse and it’s pretty distracting.
Overall a fantastic package, with only two minor gripes. First, the stick sits in a square arrangement, which isn’t optimal for fighting games, where having 8 directional corners is really helpful (although this can be fixed with an after market add on, I believe). Second, the buttons feel a little less solid than I expected, maybe a less dense plastic or something.
But those are tiny gripes compared to the overall product. I love the wireless operation over 2.4ghz, which compliments my wireless gaming setup very well, and the aesthetics hit that sweet NES feel from the late 80s. The button labels also light up according to whether you’re using Xinput or Switch Input, which is a nice little quality of life feature. The stick feels very much like an old arcade stick, with tactility to match.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for an arcade stick with modern creature comforts.
Great stick, highly customizable as stated. I threw a Sanwa GT-Y Octagonal Restrictor Plate for JLF Joysticks on it and it plays exactly like I want it to. Some people will probably want to swap the buttons out for something with more feedback like Cherry MX.
The only thing preventing me from giving this a 5 star is the button layout. The shoulder buttons are in reverse order. The left trigger and bumper are on the far right side and right trigger and right bumper are to the left of those. So in reverse order (see screen shot). You can customize the layout to fix this in game, but the led lighting around the buttons is still in reverse and it’s pretty distracting.
Amazing arcade stick. The joystick itself and the buttons are quite loose for my taste, but it’s easily moddable with Sanwa parts
If you are a fan of old school arcade games, which there are a TON of for the Switch, then you will not be disappointed by this stick. I am waiting for a price drop just so I can buy a second one and build a simple arcade cabinet for my living room (just for the sticks since my TV is above the fireplace).
Built very well, great battery life,the weight is spot on and works with a variety of platforms (perfect for pi’s). Stick some sanwa buttons in there when you get it and you’ll love this arcade stick.
This is amazingly good for Super Street Fighter on PC.
Pros:
-Stick and button feel just as good as sanwa
-build quality is great
-weight is perfect for the size. (Enough to.
keep it still)
-connectivity is fast once you understand.
howto
– turbo button and macro key included
-button mapping available via software
-battery life is roughly 10hours for on and off.
gaming
Cons:
-the the glossy black part around the buttons.
are a fingerprint magnet
– latency with Bluetooth just enough to notice.
of your an average gamer
-turbo button only has one speed
-macrokeys are one direction only
-software isn’t user-friendly youll need to.
understand how to use macrokeys already
I didn’t get this immediately because I was told it wouldn’t work on MacBooks, but that was wrong. It works just fine over bluetooth and it even worked immediately with my Raspberry Pi! Buttons feel good and the control stick has a good click to it. Even though I don’t have an actual arcade in my room I can make any game I play feel like a genuine experience from the arcades since it works with so many different systems out of the box! Was eventually gonna get a custom arcade stick, but why bother when this does everything I need it to and more!
What an amazing arcade joystick, not only beautiful but very nice quality. Also, connects very easily and works flawlessly I love it!!
Been using for a few months now and honestly for the price it’s actually great, tho only issue I have is a very small nitpick being that it doesn’t have support for screw in buttons you have to use snap ins but other than that it’s super moddable like dumb easy to mod and even the base model works great as a starter fight stick
very good quality and very fun to use recommend 100% to anyone
Sin embargo, el detalle que puedo decir es que, si deseas una experiencia premium en juegos de pelas, vas a necesitar un restrictor de palanca para darle el plus al stick. El restrictor que trae de fbrica es cuadrado pero a pesar de ello va muy bien. Repito, si quieres darle un plus compra otro restrictor. Otro detalle es que no lo pude conectar a un receptor de la misma marca, especficamente del control 8bit do para sega, no lo reconoci siendo que es la misma marca, no s si debo configurarlo para ello.
Otra cosa, ten en cuenta que est diseado para los juegos de nintendo switch (y pc) especialmente los de corte clsico, por lo que puedes jugar juegos como outlas pero hace falta el otro stick para mover la cmara.
En resumen, alegre con mi compra. equis de.
Nice size, good weight, wired and wireless options, turbo button, quite a few features, I’ve posted a review and gameplay video to YT today, follow my links if you want to see this arcade stick in action.
This works on my Pandora Box latency is great can use it on your mini PC no issues.
Only doing 4 stars because it wouldn’t work wirelessly with my raspberry pi. It was set up like all my other wireless controllers but just wouldn’t work unless connected. Also there are no instructions on how to set up thru pi even though it’s suppose to be compatible
Only downside.. I found the stock joystick a little wobbly. I replaced the stock joystick with a Sanwa and the buttons with Silent Sanwa buttons.
for an entry-level arcade stick, this is an excellent buy feels extremely solid, and isn’t too light or heavy, some may find it uncomfortable to hold the joystick for a long period of time due to the small space on the left but I have had no problems. all in all this is a great purchase. I will try and update this review if anything becomes a problem.
I’ve been a fan of 8Bitdo’s products for a while and I was told by numerous people this would be a good beginner arcade stick and, honestly, yeah, they were correct. I love this arcade stick.
8Bitdo’s Arcade Stick has so many qualities about it that I adore. For one, the NES aesthetic is always going to be great, but more importantly: The build feels quality. The plastic doesn’t feel cheap and the stick and dials have a nice, tactile click that feel very quality. The buttons also feel like they can really take a pounding. I love that you can switch between Xinput for general device use and Switch for Nintendo Switch use via a dedicated dial and that switching between profiles actively changes the layout of the button LED displays to accomodate Nintendo’s unique letter layout. That is seriously a really nice attention to detail, and there’s even a dedicated dial to specify whether the stick itself inputs as left analog, right analog, or D-pad. I also love that the stick gives you different wired and wireless options for connecting to your devices.
One more thing I love: The board inside is built in such a way so that you may easily modify the device with your own custom parts should you see fit. It’s not something I’m going to partake in as the NES aesthetic is perfect for me as is, but I appreciate that I have been given the option would I wish it.
The only thing I have an issue with is the dedicated P1 and P2 buttons don’t seem to function as start buttons. There’s already a dedicated start button next to the dials, so it’s not too big of an issue, but it just feels bizarre to press P1/P2 and have nothing happen. I know they work just fine as signal does through them, but I have no idea what they are mapped to be since they don’t act like start buttons. In the end, it doesn’t really bother me all that much, but I still felt compelled to note it regardless.
It’s great Fightstick for beginners training to be part of the FGC
Die Buttons (die man brigens bei Bedarf auch auswechseln kann) sind schn wertig, der Stick “klickt” schn und ist dabei przise. Das ganze Teil ist nicht nur absolut hochwertig, sondern auch schwer, was ihn wunderbar standfest macht. Er connected sich problemlos mit der Switch und dies kann man auf verschiedene Arten machen: entweder per Bluetooth, 2.4G oder per USB-C-Kabel. Man kann zudem das Button-Layout ndern (beide Varianten werden auf dem Stick sogar angezeigt), es gibt belegbare Macro-Buttons und der Stick sollte mit allen gngigen Konsolen / Plattform funktionieren (was ich persnlich aber noch nicht probiert habe).
Braucht man den? N, aber wer gern klassische Games spielt, der wird mit diesem Stick noch etwas mehr Spa haben! Ich empfehle dazu zum Beispiel die Capcom Below The Belt – Collection, die man auch hier kaufen kann. Das ist ein Japan-Import, der aber problemlos auf einer deutschen Switch luft und einige der besten Capcom-Brawler vereint. Dazu der 8Bitdo Arcade Stick und der Abend ist gerettet!
That said, I do have a few of 8Bitdo’s products and have been satisfied with all of them. I bought this arcade stick as a novelty item. Now that I’ve used it for a few days, it has surpassed my expectations. It has been tremendously fun to play the games on offer through the Nintendo Switch Online service. I also have copies of Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection as well as the Sega Genesis Classics collection. The arcade stick makes it fun to revisit these games. As an added note, this will not make you better at Street Fighter; I am still horrible at it.
The build quality on this product is fantastic. It’s heavier than expected, which is a good thing as it doesn’t move around and I can even play comfortably with it sitting on my lap. The joystick has a very satisfying click. The buttons feel good and according the 8Bitdo, can be customized easily (no soldering required) with aftermarket buttons if you choose to do that.
It is compatible with the Nintendo Switch, Windows and Apple computers. One neat feature is that when you switch the knob between Switch or X-Input, the button display will change to indicate that.
It can be connected in three ways. You can connect it through bluetooth, which is what I have done when using it with my Switch. I don’t notice any input delays, though I am not an expert at this either. You can also connect it through a 2.4Ghz wireless connection. The dongle is neatly hidden away within the unit, which is a nice touch. Or you can opt to connect it through a USB cable. The cable is really long too, which I’m sure will be appreciated by those who chose to use it as a wired arcade stick.
The only downside to this arcade stick, is that it is currently limited to what it can be used for. I also have an Xbox with Gamepass, and it would have been nice to be able to use this arcade stick with all the fighting games available on that service. I cross my fingers, that a firmware update can fix this.
8bitdo make the best controllers out there. This arcade stick is so much fun to play witg and very well built.
I purchased this arcade stick knowing that I would not being using it for any serious competitive fighting matches. I’ve owned many arcade sticks in the past from Mad Catz TE’s, Hori RAPs to PRO VEWLIX models. So if you are looking for that competitive “fighting’ edge maybe try something else, if you need a Switch specific stick try the Hori RAP
I bought this stick soley for fun and the nostalgia. I’ve been really pleased with all the 8bitdo products that I have purchased so far. I wanted to play titles like 1942, ikaruga, streets of rage 4, Capcom arcade stadium puzzle bobble, metal slug, etc. Pretty much any old school arcade game that was not a fighter in particular. This stick was great, fun, clicky and responsive while connect via bluetooth. This is my first wireless stick and to be cord free with a clean setup was nice thing to see in this modern day.
I did try old school street fighter titles and some SNK fighting games. It does the job, just don’t expect those microlevel details that the hardcore fight fans look for in more expensive alternatives.
PROS
Solid weight and base
BT Wireless
NES retro look
CONS
joystick requires soldering
This is the best arcade stick I owned so far, good price with very good quality.
Enjoy playing the MAME with my daughter every time.
The original parts that come with the arcade stick are good quality. But if you want to go top of the line with sanwa buttons or joystick you can without any issues. The older N30 8bitdo arcade stick you had to do some soldering to modify the joystick and buttons. Since this is a Bluetooth controller I had an issue using it on my SNES Classic.
I had to get the 8bitdo Bluetooth receiver. Even when I got the receiver I still could not get it to work. I had to update the firmware to version 1.14. The version the receiver came with was V 1.16. It actuality I went down a version. No worries when you go to the 8bitdo website and tell them what system you want to use the controller for they will provide the correct download for you.
My last issue when I was mapping the buttons for street fighter I could not register my high kick to button zr. Back in the day there was no button called zr. 8bitdo will have to do a software tweak to work that issue out. I still don’t know what all the switches do up top. I will watch a youtube video to figure it out. There were no directions to tell you the function of the switches.
Pros:
Good quality build
Can easily be modified
Cons:
Need 8bito Bluetooth receiver
Bluetooth receiver needs firmware update to work on SNES Classic
Not all buttons map because they have different names from original versio
The front button plate is it’s wow factor to looks, it looks like a nes advantage and the button plate when you choose a connection mode letters light up for what mode your connecting.
Everything is super straightforward, the stick and buttons are ok… if it’s your first stick you’ll be happy and won’t know the difference, but i already ordered sanwa parts to swap out, which btw modding is really easy.
Overall at the price point the stick is, it’s a great buy.
P.S (you can solder the stick cause of the extra pin placks on the pcb, but honstly save your self the headache and just get a “female to female 5 pin fightstick adapter” snip one end of the lock on the plug and plug it in the 8 pin socket and “bam!” It works perfectly, also if you switch the buttons make sure you get snap ins and not screw locks cause theres not enough clearance between the pcbs and the buttons)
Great value wireless stick, using it on pc and android tv box. I love 8bitdo and this didn’t disappoint.
La facilidad de uso, enchufar y listo…. Y sobre todo inalambrico, pero con una latencia inexistente… Es sencillamente perfecto. Vale cada euro que piden por el.
Rebosa calidad por cada esquina, y si an quieres ms, se pueden cambiar tanto los botones como la palanca por unos sanwa, y ya sera crema… Pero si no, los que lleva tienen una calidad excelente, capaces de dar horas y horas de diversin sin resentirse lo ms mnimo.
I love this 8bitdo arcade stick for the switch it’s easy to set up and the controls are great with no lags and the material is good quality. The control itself is heavy what makes it authentic and it is a great product, awesome job 8bitdo.
This is the first fight stick I have ever owned and I love it! I’ve been playing a lot of chun-li and I gotta say, I really like the feel of this controller. It is very responsive and has a satisfying old school feel. Again, this is my first fight stick and I’ve only used it in wired mode on pc, but it has been great for me!
like the light up letters on the board don’t like that it doesn’t work with retro game system nes mini
I really appreciate the effort 8bitdo put into the design and functionality of this Arcade Stick. I own many arcade sticks and they all share a very similar design. This stick definitely stands out. The added macro buttons cleaverly placed and light up button guide were very nice touches too. Would definitely recommend this stick for Nintendo Switch users whether they already own sticks or this one being their first.
My only complaint is that the joystick is not as easy to swap out as it could be because it does not use a 5pin joystick cable.
Ich bin mit dem Produkt zufrieden und habe es mir daher gleich ein zweites mal bestellt – es sieht gut aus, lsst sich Kabellos aus meiner Sicht problemlos verwenden und lsst sich gut handhaben. Besonders die LED-Anzeige gefllt mir gut. Auch das Zubehr und die Verpackung sind hochwertig. Fr den Preis in Ordnung denke ich.
Zu modding-Mglichkeiten kann ich nichts sagen. Auch die Qualitt der Knpfe und des Sticks kann ich nicht einschtzen. Ich verstehe die Kritik aus dem Internet, dass es bei Arcade-Spielen undeutlich sein kann, in welche Richtung die Eingabe registriert werden kann, bin aber auch kein Street Fighter Profi. Ein Vorteil ist aber definitiv die Mglichkeit, den Stick als linken Stick, rechten Stick oder Steuerkreuz nutzen zu knnen – so lassen sich sogar Spiele wie Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX oder 3D-Jump n Runs (z.B. Crash Bandicoot) gut mit dem Gert zocken. Funktioniert gut mit dem Raspberry Pi 4 und Recalbox.
Die Knpfe machen spa, sind aber durch ihr Klicken nicht zum Zocken im Wohnzimmer neben Personen geeignet, die keinen Bock aufs Daddeln haben. Das ist ja aber gewollt. Die Knpfe lassen sich leicht bettigen und registrieren Knopfdruck sensibel.
Warum dann der Abzug?
1. Bei der Lieferung des zweiten Gertes war der Lieferkarton beschdigt. Auch der Karton des Gertes war nicht verklebt und in der Verpackung lagen einzelne Bestandteile lose in der Verpackung und es fehlte der Kabelbinder des USB-Anschlusses. Auch das Gert war bereits angestaubt – fr mich ein Anzeichen, dass es sich um eine Rcksendung handelt. Das alleine strt mich nicht, auch diese knnen ja bei Funktionstchtigkeit gerne weiterverkauft werden, aber besonders Anno 2021 htte ich mir eine grndliche Reinigung und bessere berprfung der Verpackung gewnscht – einfach fr das Feeling.
2. Welcher Idiot kam auf die Idee, beim X(Box) Layout die Tasten LT und LB RECHTS und die Tasten RT und RB LINKS zu positionieren?
I am new to arcade sticks, so I’m not really a stickler for the “best” parts. I just wanted something of decent quality that works on Switch and PC. This feels very nice to me, and I like it very much.
Pros: Small form factor,
Great build quality (nice plastic!),
Nice attention to detail (place to store usb, flap has a cut out for the cord to come out, LEDs change depending on whether you use switch or PC settings),
Heavy so it doesn’t move around while using it
Nice aesthetic
Works on PC and Switch flawlessly and offers several options for hooking it up (native switch bluetooth, 2.5g dongle, wired)
VERY long usb-C cable included
Moddable (though changing the stick is more difficult than changing the buttons)
Cons:
Smaller than “pro” arcade sticks
Not highest “pro” quality parts (but only experienced arcade stick users will notice)
Does not work on Xbox or PS4 (only PC and Switch, according to 8bitdo)
I want to give it 4 stars because the Joystick is crap, even after changing the spring it bounces back towards opposite direction but not bad after spring change. I haven’t tested it but it is not supposed to work with PS5 or PS4 but I LOVE this thing so much and it looks damn good. Joystick isnt a deal breaker and changing buttons, spring is easy. This is my first Arcade stick…
I be wrecking dudes in Street Fighter 5 on PC.
I’ve wanted a joystick since Donkey Kong and this was everything I ever wanted and more.
This is a fantastic feeling stick. The hard switch that switches the device from Direct Input to X-Input is a fantastic upgrade from the previous 8Bitdo stick and really adds to the ease of use. The 2.4 ghz receiver has tremendous range compared to Bluetooth.
Please take my review with a grain of salt, I’m a casual when it comes to arcade sticks and I wouldn’t know the difference between pro buttons or not. However, what I can say is that this arcade stick feels sturdy, well built, and very responsive. I’ve been playing games like Scott Pilgrim, various SNES/NES titles (via Switch), Megaman X Collection, Street Fighter, etc… and I haven’t run into any issues. I also used it to play some Hades on my PC and feels great. It seems this arcade stick is customizable, I wouldn’t dare to say a thing about that because I intend to leave it as is and I just feel happy with how it works for me.
I am a massive fan of this Arcade stick. It’s hefty, it’s got amazing joystick and buttons (non sanwa but just as good), it’s flexible and wireless! I only have one tiny gripe in that this isn’t compatible with PlayStation or Xbox.
Bought this for use with my Rapsberry Pi since the wired sticks I had were insanely bulky. This thing works great and is super easy to setup, had it powered up, connected, and running in under five minutes after charging it after delivery. Very easy to mod too, I popped the back panel off and replaced the restrictor gate with literally zero experience with modding arcade sticks. Buttons feel nice and decently responsive, no noticeable lag time in the games I’ve been playing at work.
It is fairly decent out the box, but maybe doesn’t have the “feel” of more quality components that the hardened gamer would want. But the buttons are responsive and the stick clicks in the right places, but is a more looser feel than I prefer. I swapped out the stick, and buttons for Sanwa ones, and as others have said, its not the most flexible for choice of parts, unless you are happy making alterations. I soldered the cable connector points fairly easily (I found a cable image online to tell me which cable goes where), and the buttons were a cinch, but you can’t use the screw-type, only snap-in ones. But this kind of modding isn’t for everyone.
Yes sure, you need a Torx screwdriver to pop open the case, and many technical minded people who open up electronics complain about this online, and here. I mean, you don’t have a star-drive screwdriver set and yet open up electronics? There’s a reason why they are used and should be essential to your tool box.
So to sum up. Modding is a bonus, not as simple as they (8BitDo) suggest, but there are a few options open to you. That said the market this is aimed at, many won’t care. It does the job well and is a good option for fighting game fans, who own a Switch or those who use emulation on PC. It has a nice retro look, is weighty, and I can see this dropping in price too. A good option unless you are a really fussy hardcore gamer who is expecting far more than maybe you ought at this price point.
PLEASE NOTE!! Some have mentioned the software for PC, that 8BitDo have, which allows for creating macros and custom mapping of the buttons for PC. For PC this is fine. For Switch if you wish to change the mapping, create a profile for that in the Switch settings, you would need to change the stick mapping here for games such as Smash Bros (although really, a stick isn’t the way to go for this game). Also I downloaded the latest firmware to the stick which fixed the issue of a light not showing while charging. I assume it will still charge without this, you’d just not be able to tell it was doing so. Later production of this stick may not have this issue.
Worked great out of the box on both Windows and Linux, and works great with wired, BT and the included 2.4ghz dongle on both platforms. Since it supports Xinput, it’s detected by just about everything you could throw at it on PC. Wonderful for retro emulation, particularly for arcade games. Haven’t personally tried the Switch mode yet, but I see no reason why it wouldn’t work just as well. The stick is hefty and stays in place even with vigorous use due to a metal plate inside the bottom giving it staying power.
Like some other users here I don’t care for the square gate, even though pro fighter players swear by them. Replaced it with a SANWA JLF octagonal gate and I couldn’t be happier. Took me maybe 10 minutes, 5 of which was just figuring out how to safely detach the old gate. Being so affordable yet completely moddable with higher end parts makes this a great entry level arcade/fight stick with plenty of room to grow to match even high end arcade sticks in quality. It would be nice if the stick were more easily modded without a soldering iron, but the fact that it can be modded at all is enough for me if I ever get to that point.
If you do want to open it up, unfortunately you’ll need a narrow t10 screwdriver. The iFixit screwdriver just barely fits, so if you’ve got anything even slightly bigger than that or no t10 at all, you’ll also want to pick up a smaller screwdriver if you have any plans of modding this thing. It would have been nice if you just used standard phillips screws.
When you put the stick in Nintendo Mode, it reverses the A/B and X/Y buttons, even including new light-up indicators showing the buttons. While the LEDs are a nice touch, I don’t really see a point to this reversal personally, I’d have preferred a consistent button layout across platforms. It doesn’t make much sense to me. Just because the buttons change places on a gamepad doesn’t mean they should on an arcade stick which uses a completely different form factor. I rely pretty heavily on muscle memory which is adapted to whatever controller I’m using, so I’m sure this would trip me up if I used it on the Switch.
My biggest complaint, which is still a very small complaint, is the limitations on the macro software. I wish you could bind buttons that aren’t on the gamepad to the macro buttons, particularly L3/R3 or even keyboard buttons. One of the games I play uses the L3+R3 button combination occasionally and it would be nice to be able to bind it to one of the macro buttons, and occasionally it would be nice to hit a keyboard binding too.
Overall, fantastic stick.
Very impressed with the build quality and all the features I didn’t even know you can get on arcade sticks.
Been using it wirelessly online in Tekken 7 via the 2.4G dongle and haven’t noticed any input delay.
Ergonomics-wise, it’s a nice size, liking the fact that it’s quite heavy in your lap, so none of the quarter-circle inputs shift it around.
The 8bitdo software is intuitive, does exactly what it’s supposed to do, no complaints.
I will leave the modding aspects to considerably more knowledgeable users, all I can say is that, coming from a HORI Mini, this is a massive step up.
es muy bueno si juegas en pc, switch y celular como es mi caso ya que puedes tener las 3 cosas ya sincronizadas sin problema por lo que es solo mover la perilla y empezar a jugar sin tener que estar sincronizando, el nico detalle es que es de restrictor cuadrado pero es modificable
Super responsive, great weight. Easy to setup, NO PROBLEM! I can combo to and from Denshin with the greatest of ease.
The stock parts are acceptable and many of the other reviews go to great lengths to address how modable it is. Switch and PC compatibility are great, of course, but I wanted to see how well it works with other systems using a variety of common adapters, so I’ll address those below:
NES/SNES/Genesis (8bitdo adapters) – Works great with the Bluetooth retro receivers when the stick is in Switch mode. If you were hoping to connect the stick to the 2.4Ghz receivers for these systems, you’re unfortunately out of luck. Though NES/SNES/Genesis controllers can connect to receivers with different systems, the stick seems locked to the 2.4Ghz receiver it is shipped with. Hopefully they will change this in future firmware.
Dreamcast/Saturn (Brook Wingman SD) – Compatible via Bluetooth in Switch mode. Compatible via 2.4Ghz and wired connections in X-input mode. The wired mode can be a little janky, and sometimes required unplugging/replugging to get a stable connection. Once it established the connection, however, it seems to work just fine.
PS3/PS4 (Brook Wingman XE) – Behavior was identical to the Wingman SD. Works great on both systems. Presumably that means it could also be made to work with the PS5, but I don’t have one to test.
PS1/PS2 (Brook Super Converter) – This was tricky. It will only connect through Bluetooth in Switch mode. Most of the time, it would not recognize the directional pad. The stick occasionally worked in Left Analog mode and rarely worked in D-Pad mode. Reconnecting occasionally fixed the problem, but not very often. When using the Wingman XE as an intermediary, however, this problem disappeared the compatibility was identical to the PS3/PS4.
XBox360/XBox One/XBox Series X – It does not connect natively. This likely works with the Brook Wingman XB, but I don’t have one to test.
In summary, this a solid medium-sized stick with great compatibility using commonly available adapters. Lag on 2.4Ghz and wired modes are below my threshold to detect in regular gameplay and Bluetooth lag about the same other 8bitdo controllers. I’m okay with it, but YMMV.
Very good 8 way stick – not good 4 way for pacman etc without modding the gate – beware of that fac
Was looking for a wireless arcade stick so that I can switch between console gaming and pc gaming on the fly. This fits the bill and so far and has been a blast to use!
There are some cons I was fully aware of going in. I honestly think if those were addressed in their next iteration they would have a 6/5 product on their hands. Maybe even a triple wireless connection!!? 2.4ghz/BT1/BT2
Pros:
Build Quality
Switch connections on the fly (PC,PS4/Switch)
Moddable
Cons:
Need to purchase an additional wireless dongle (Got the mayflash magic pro) to use on the PS4
Lack of a 3.5mm for headphones
I really enjoy old school arcade style games, and this Arcade stick makes playing them a joy. Going from a regular game controller or keyboard to this feels so good! I’ve been using it wirelessly on my Windows 10 PC using the 2.4ghz USB adapter and the connection is solid and lag free. There are tons of arcade games for dirt cheap on Steam so it’s been fun to dig through the classics. The controller gets recognized like a wired Xbox controller so a lot of games are plug and play or require minimal configuration. You can remap the controller using Steam for each game or overall using the 8bitdo Ultimate software.
The controller is extremely well made, and built like a tank. It’s heavy!!! A few pounds at least. It works great on a desktop or in the lap as well. The battery lasts an incredibly long time… it’s rated at 40 hours so you won’t need to charge it often. It also auto-sleeps after inactivity so you don’t even need to remember to turn it off.
I am happy with the sticks and buttons that are included so far. I may upgrade eventually which looks like it would be very easy to do. I am very happy with this arcade stick and I think any fan of retro gaming will be as well. It comes at a borderline premium price point, but in my opinion is worth it, both in functionality and build quality.
I love this thing! I’m not a fighting game player by any stretch of the imagination but the versatility of this stick is awesome. I have a lot of 8bitdo adapters in my house and the fact that I can use this stick to play my NES, SNES, Genesis, NES/SNES/genesis/ps1 Classics, and Switch with ease makes it amazing. You can do that with any Bluetooth 8bitdo controller though so that’s not new.
The design I like a lot also. The NES is my favorite system so the Grey, black, and red aesthetic from that system that looks like a modern NES Advantage is great.
Little touches like the lights on it that for example when you switch it to Switch mode, the Leds light up to correspond with those buttons (ABXY, L, R, ZL, ZR) and when you switch it to X mode, the Led changes to xbox buttons (ABXY, RT, LT, RB, LB) are such a nice touch.
You can also mod it by changing all the buttons and the stick to other buttons even the high quality sanwa ones, but I’m leaving mine just the way it is because I love how it looks.
This is a wireless arcade stick with really good build quality that supports two platforms for under $100. It comes with a really long USB C cable you can use to charge or to play wired and is built with customizability in mind. The fit and finish is sublime and while these are not the *best* buttons and stick money can buy, it still feels great and you can swap in your own if you have a preference.
This thing comes with a square gate for the stick. This, too, can be modified and you can use off the shelf replacements to give it a diamond or octagonal gate if desired for not too much money. I would recommend you do that, too, if you want to use this for arcade games like I do, because a square gate is not the best for playing coin-op classics like donkey kong or raiden. Not to say it can’t be done, but you’ll wish you had some more positive registration out of your cardinal directions.
Overall, if you are in the market for this kind of thing, the 8Bitdo arcade stick is a no brainer. I had been researching how to roll my own arcade stick when they announced this and quickly lost all interest in building my own from scratch. I have personally modded the gate on mine and do intend to do the buttons at some point as well but only because I like fiddling with this stuff, not because I think it’s absolutely necessary.
Solid above average stick. I really like the weight on this thing. It’s small but perfect weight. As advertised and definitely worth the retail $90. Just wish the screws where regular Phillips screws not these allen wrench screws.
This is a great arcade stick. I usually make my own, so I assumed I would need to upgrade some parts on this one to get it up to my standard, but I actually like it as it comes. It’s easy to upgrade if you need to though. The only upgrade I have made is the detachable joystick mod from Focusattack. Now I can keep the arcade stick in a laptop sleeve and throw it in my backpack. One cool feature that I didn’t get from the pictures, is that the lit up button labels change for Nintendo Switch and X-input mode. I recommend it for anyone’s collection, or for someone who is a fan of fighting games and is trying to get a better arcade experience.
Jumped back into fighting games. And wanted a fight stick to give me finders a break from a PS4 controller. This purchase was awesome. Sleek/retro design and super easy to setup. Love using it on arcade type games as well.
WORKS BEAUTIFULLY MY BEST FRIEND CANNOT STOP USING IT THANKS BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT!!!!
Great device for switch and pi! You can finally play fighting games/arcade games properly on the switch. And it’s a steal at $90
Se conecta muy sencillo, ya sea Bluetooth o WiFi 2.4 (con el conector includo) con la Nintendo Switch y una PC (Amazon Games, Emuladores, GOG, Steam, ect. todos OK) manteniendo las configuraciones por separadas, como el resto de los productos de 8BitDo, y trabaja muy bien ya sea por conexin almbrica o inalmbrica.
Tiene un peso considerable de manera que ayudar a que no se mueva durante su uso.
Revisando algunas reseas, el intercambio por componentes profesionales no es exactamente sencillo (debido al desarmador que se requiere y la palanca est soldada por lo que no es sencillo cambiarlo as como integrarla a la placa), no obstante, al involucrarse en este tipo de actualizaciones se entiende que se requiere cierta experiencia en el manejo de este tipo de componentes por lo que no debera representar un gran problema.
En la generalidad, es un excelente producto.
This is one of the smaller forms I’ve used so far. No complaints about smoothness, the USB-C cable removes potential input lag for those taking that seriously, and the kids love it!
I think 8bitdo is a very fun company, and this arcade stick has been incredible so far. The first impression was it is big and hefty, but that is not at all a bad thing. Used it to play few games on my switch and PC and really like the simplicity of the 2.4 connection. I have and will continue to recommend this arcade stick to friends, and everyone for that matter.
I love the fact that this stick can work with no effort on 3 different platforms. Great product as usual from 8Bitdo.
Great value, excellent for your first fight stick. Works great with my MiSTer, Switch, and PC.
It basically works with everything that accepts the 8bitdo Adapter (included).
Super easy to mod. The stock buttons are high quality but not as responsible as Sanwa, but modding is part of the fun.
That’s not a pro Sticker, but in other hand works with everything, most pro stickers are cabled and just suitable via USB. This is excellent for casual and semi-pro players that are looking for versatility along with a high quality product with several different functions.
It’s heavy but not heavy as a professional product, if you’re that kind of player that smash buttons very hard you probably need to add some weight.
****PROS****
– Design
– Easy to mod
– works with almost everything wireless or not.
– 8bit do wireless receiver included
-Battery life
– low latency
– Price is fair for what you get (like other 8bitdo Products).
– button letter change depending of the input type is REALLY COOL!
****CONS****
– USB charging port is kinda hidden and hard to reach.
– Stock buttons are “ok” but not great (easily swapped though).
– It’s hard to disassemble, you need a long Allen screwdriver. The older version was easier (Phillips screws).
– button connectors are too tight.
– Not for pro players, it’s a premium product for average and semi-pro players.
I am having a lot of fun with this fight stick. Good quality it’s got some weight to it. I like that it’s also wireless and wired option. Loving it. It came a day earlier than I expected. I like playing Street fighter collections on the switch. All the moves come out. Definitely a must for the price.
1st great wireless arcade stick! I get tired of being plugged or having to plug in to play with an arcade stick! COol and works grea
This controller is perfect and hooked up to retropie out of the box using the 2.4ghz setting. The action, size and weight of the controller is perfect for all types of games including fighters and platformers.
Now my wife wants one too.
Initially, I was a bit weary with this not having Sanwa parts, but those fears diminished as the parts that 8bitdo used feel decent overall, the weight is a HUGE attribute, and it all comes in a wonderfully nostalgic, retro package.
Edit: after using the stick for several days, the buttons have started squeaking. Perfectly usable, but annoying. I’m knocking one star off because of this.
Amazing arcade stick, the build quality is fantastic and the lights under the panel are incredible looking and a nice surprise.
Simplemente hermoso, es con stick que se siente muy comodo al usarlo en juego fighting, no se present input lag en modo bluetooth. En pc te lo reconocer como mando de Xbox 360.
And I’m so glad I did! The stick is clicky and responsive. The whole unit has a good amount of weight to it, along with nice grippy rubber feet to ensure that it won’t move around while you’re in the middle of throwing Sonic Booms and whatnot.
My one and only gripe about this arcade stick involves had to do with how it is marketed. In the pictures here and on the 8bitdo website, as well as in a response from the company above, they say that the unit is “ultra-moddable”, and show you the inside of the unit. This is great, because the buttons are a bit too “mushy” for my taste, and I wanted to swap them out for GamerFinger buttons that use Cherry MX switches.
HOWEVER… The one thing that 8bitdo never mentions is that in order to open up the stick to mod it, you need to have a Torx screwdriver, because all the screws on the outside of the stick use small star-shaped Torx screws rather than the more standard Phillips or flathead screws. This means you can’t take advantage of the “Ultra-moddability” unless you happen to already have a Torx driver in your toolbox.
After opening it up, I easily swapped out the stock buttons for 8 30mm GamerFinger snap-style buttons, along with an octagonal JLF-compatible gate for the stick. However, the buttons labeled 1P and 2P are 24mm buttons, and I only had screw-in style 24mm buttons. The stick does not provide enough clearance to use screw-in style buttons, so here’s a heads up so you don’t order the wrong type of buttons.
Overall, I love this stick, and would highly recommend it!
Great build quality. Heavy and looks cool. Stock parts aren’t terrible, but easy to upgrade anyway. Recommended.
This thing has some gravity in it. It is nice and heavy, very rigid. Having a toggle for what the joystick does is excellent. The fact that it works with ultimate software is a huge bonus
Just received my stick… This thing is way more product than I would have guessed. I gambled on it a little, mostly wanted something for my mister with a wireless connection. Stick is incredibly beefy as in heavy, the stick itself as well as the buttons feel like they are heavy duty enough to be on an arcade cabinet itself. I played around with it for about an hour had no issues canceling into supers or performing combos. For 90 bucks this thing is stellar, I use a Hori Fighting edge on my pc and this thing could almost be a replacement if that thing ever died. The size is perfect for my mister. Can’t recommend enough… 8bit do knocking it out of the park.
8BitDo answered a Q&A stating that there was a dedicated screenshot button on this device, but it only has a home button. I haven’t decided to dive into the ability to customize the profile, which says that you can customize button mapping, but I may be able to set the TURBO button to function as the screenshot button since I don’t have any use for that myself. If not, I may be able to set one of the shoulder buttons that are not used in any given game to be a screenshot button, but that still isn’t a dedicated screenshot button as was mentioned.
ON TO THE REVIEW THOUGH. Which is not grumpy!
Initial review so far – Had some trouble getting it to connect to my Switch using the USB dongle that is included with it, BUT.. you -have- to make sure that you have Pro Controller support turned on in your system settings. (read -all- the instructions! haha~.ha.~…. heh.. *sigh*)
I fired up Street Fighter’s Anniversary Collection on the Switch, and to be honest, I absolutely love this thing. I might have forgot how to play using an SNES style controller, but that muscle memory from standing in front of the arcade cabinets hasn’t left me at all!
Next, I managed to hook it up to the PC with no trouble at all and played some Guilty Gear. Oh that sweet arcade stick action is -nice-.
Being that this is my first ever arcade stick since the NES Advantage, the square gate for the stick itself makes executing certain moves a little bit awkward, but not impossible! I’m already planning on modding it with an octagonal restrictor gate for just a few bucks to make it feel more like what I’m used to when playing at the arcade, but still friendly to playing non-fight games. TBH, I might get a circle restrictor as well just to see how it feels since they are not that expensive. Just need to read up a bit on what is compatible with this and take the dive.
Bottom line, I already love it. It feels sturdy, it seems like it will last a long time, and 8BitDo has delivered modernized nostalgia again. (Just.. try to watch what you include in your responses to questions, 8BitDo..)
amazing feel, hefty, sturdy, easy software i get a feeling this will last forever. thanks 8bitdo!
Using the dongle that comes with the stick I was easily able to connect my pc to the arcade stick. Stick the dongle in the usb slot and it connects!! no fuss at all. I believe it recognize the stick as xbox 360 controller on pc. And I was able to play both games no problem without having to change anything. I have not tested bluetooth connection yet but I doubt I will have problem on the front.
As for the arcade stick itself, it is very solid. I like that it actually has some heft to it. Sticks and buttons all feel clicky and responsive. They don’t feel cheap like many arcade stick that are around 50 dollars. Overall it feels like a very good stick that can take some abuses for years to come although I can’t say that for sure yet.
Overall, I am very satisfied with the purchase. I had a high hope since it is an 8bitdo controller and they usually make some high quality controller and I believe they did an excellent job with this one as well. Highly recommended!!! ( I will update this review in the future if any issue comes up)